scholarly journals Human meiosis VIII. Chromosome pairing and formation of the synaptonemal complex in oocytes

1983 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Bojko
Genome ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Mekada ◽  
M Harada ◽  
L K Lin ◽  
K Koyasu ◽  
P M Borodin ◽  
...  

Pairing of X and Y chromosomes at meiotic prophase and the G- and C-banding patterns and nucleolar organizer region (NOR) distribution were analyzed in Microtus kikuchii. M. kikuchii is closely related to M. oeconomus and M. montebelli, karyologically and systematically. The formation of a synaptonemal complex between the X and Y chromosomes at pachytene and end-to-end association at diakinesis – metaphase I are only observed in three species in the genus Microtus; M. kikuchii, M. oeconomus, and M. montebelli. All the other species that have been studied so far have had asynaptic X–Y chromosomes. These data confirm that M. kikuchii, M. oeconomus, and M. montebelli are very closely related, and support the separation of asynaptic and synaptic groups on the phylogenetic tree.Key words: Microtus kikuchii, Microtus phylogeny, karyotype, synaptic sex chromosomes, synaptonemal complex.


Genome ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1032-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. de Jong ◽  
A. M. A. Wolters ◽  
J. M. Kok ◽  
H. Verhaar ◽  
J. van Eden

Three somatic hybrids resulting from protoplast fusions of a diploid kanamycin-resistant line of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and a dihaploid hygromycin-resistant transformant of a monohaploid potato (Solanum tuberosum) line were used for a cytogenetic study on chromosome pairing and meiotic recombination. Chromosome counts in root-tip meristem cells revealed two hypotetraploids with chromosome complements of 2n = 46 and one with 2n = 47. Electron microscope analyses of synaptonemal complex spreads of hypotonically burst protoplasts at mid prophase I showed abundant exchanges of pairing partners in multivalents involving as many as eight chromosomes. In the cells at late pachytene recombination nodules were found in multivalents on both sides of pairing partner exchanges, indicating recombination at both homologous and homoeologous sites. Light microscope observations of pollen mother cells at late diakinesis and metaphase I also revealed multivalents, though their occurrence in low frequencies betrays the reduction of multivalent number and complexity. Precocious separation of half bivalents at metaphase I and lagging of univalents at anaphase I were observed frequently. Bridges, which may result from an apparent inversion loop found in the synaptonemal complexes of a mid prophase I nucleus, were also quite common at anaphase I, though the expected accompanying fragments could be detected in only a few cells. Most striking were the high frequencies of first division restitution in preparations at metaphase II/anaphase II, giving rise to unreduced gametes. In spite of the expected high numbers of balanced haploid and diploid gametes, male fertility, as revealed by pollen staining, was found to be negligible.Key words: synaptonemal complex, recombination, chromosome pairing, somatic hybrid, Lycopersicon esculentum (+) Solanum tuberosum.


1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 411-422
Author(s):  
R. Benavente ◽  
R. Wettstein ◽  
M. Papa

An ultrastructural study was performed on the sex chromosomes (male X1X2X3O) during the spermatogenesis of Tegenaria domestica (Arachnida, Agelenidae). This study was carried out using random and serially cut sections. During pachytene and diplotene the three X chromosomes are longitudinally paired. Each of these consists of a central core of condensed chromatin, surrounded by a field of dense chromatin projections through which the chromosomes are in contact with one another. These projections may be responsible for the recognition and pairing of the sex chromosomes and in some way participate in their non-disjunction during anaphase I. A study of the structure and behaviour of the sex chromosomes during spermatogenesis is also presented. The available information on non-synaptonemal complex-mediated chromosome pairing and a systematization of sex chromosome structure in spiders are discussed.


Genome ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Dollin ◽  
J. D. Murray ◽  
C. B. Gillies

The mechanisms of homoeologous chromosome pairing were studied in synaptonemal complex (SC) spreads of F1 Brahman (Bos indicus) × Hereford (Bos taurus) cattle. The most common SC abnormalities were bivalents with partial pairing failure and interlocks. While C-band polymorphisms could underlie most of the SC abnormalities observed in the full-blood cattle, other causes seem also to be contributing in the hybrids. The pattern of the abnormalities indicates that genie differences between the species were probably involved. Pachytene substaging data suggest that in some spreads, early pachytene bivalents with partial pairing failure may achieve complete synapsis or may be converted to interlocks by late pachytene.Key words: synaptonemal complex, hybrid cattle, interlocks.


Genome ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 829-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Borodin ◽  
M. B. Rogatcheva ◽  
K. Koyasu ◽  
K. Fukuta ◽  
K. Mekada ◽  
...  

Pairing of X and Y chromosomes at meiotic prophase in males of Microtus montebelli was analyzed. The sex chromosomes form a synaptonemal complex at pachytene and end-to-end association at diakinesis – metaphase I in two species of the genus Microtus (M. montebelli and M. oeconomus) only, while they do not pair at all in the other species of this genus that have been studied so far. These data confirm that M. montebelli and M. oeconomus are very closely related in their origin. It is suggested that the sex chromosomes of M. montebelli and M. oeconomus display the ancestral type of X–Y pairing. The lack of X–Y pairing in most species of Microtus appeared after the split in lineage that led to M. oeconomus and M. montebelli on the one hand and the remaining species on the other.Key words: Microtus montebelli, arvicoline phylogeny, synaptic sex chromosome, synaptonemal complex, chromosomal evolution.


Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 611-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Jones ◽  
J. A. F. Whitehorn ◽  
S. M. Albini

Chromosome pairing of a small metacentric B chromosome in Crepis capillaris has been studied by synaptonemal complex surface spreading of pollen mother cells containing either one or two B chromosomes. The B-chromosome axis, on average, represents about 8.7% of the axis length of the standard A-chromosome set, which is less than the corresponding values for DNA content (10.6%) and mitotic chromosome volume (13.6%). Single B chromosomes commonly undergo fold-back pairing to give a symmetrical hairpin loop, which supports earlier suggestions that this B chromosome is an isochromosome. Two B chromosomes may show interarm pairing, exclusively, or interchromosome pairing, exclusively, or combinations of the two. Near the centromeres pairing occurs preferentially between arms of the same chromosome, but chromosome ends show random association. Some B chromosomes show anomalous pairing configurations, which may reflect further orders of reverse repeats within arms or, alternatively, nonhomologous pairing. The period of B-chromosome pairing is confined almost exclusively to zygotene, when the standard A chromosomes are pairing, but within this period their pairing is delayed relative to the A set. Individual B chromosomes at zygotene contain from one to three separate synaptonemal complex segments. These are widely distributed within the chromosomes, mainly in distal and interstitial regions; pairing is delayed around the centromere.Key words: B chromosomes, isochromosomes, synaptonemal complex.


1984 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 776-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Spyropoulos ◽  
P. B. Moens

Actin and myosin are commonly involved in cell motility systems. This study attempts to identify these two proteins in the synaptonemal complex (SC), a nuclear organelle associated with chromosome pairing during meiotic prophase. The several experimental approaches reported here give no evidence of SC staining with either anti-myosin or anti-actin antibodies. These findings differ from those of other reportings.Key words: synaptonemal complex, immunohistochemistry, contractile proteins, myosin, actin.


Genome ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1105-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wallace ◽  
B. M. N. Wallace

The longest chromosome (number 1) of Trituturus cristatus carries a heteromorphic segment, a heterozygosity perpetuated by a balanced lethal system. The heteromorphic segment is regarded as achiasmate and has been claimed to be asynaptic. Direct observations of chromosome pairing in spermatocytes and oocytes yield some cases where all homologous chromosomes appear to be completely paired, but the individual bivalents could not be identified as pachytene is not particularly clear in this species. The long arms of bivalent 1 usually remain attached by a terminal chiasma in spermatocytes of T. c. cristatus but the corresponding chiasma is only rarely present in T. c. carnifex spermatocytes. Synaptonemal complexes have been measured in both spermatocytes and oocytes of T. c. cristatus. A karyotype constructed from these measurements matches the main features of somatic and lampbrush chromosome karyotypes, indicating that all chromosomes must be completely paired and proportionately represented as synaptonemal complex. The total length of synaptonemal complex is much the same in spermatocytes and oocytes and is similar to the length in spermatocytes of Xenopus laevis. These two amphibian examples supplement a recent survey of other vertebrate classes to reinforce its conclusion that synaptonemal complex length is not related to genome size in vertebrates.Key words: chromosome pairing, synaptonemal complex, genome size, amphibia.


Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 856-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Dollin ◽  
J. D. Murray ◽  
C. B. Gillies

Meiotic chromosome pairing abnormalities in full-blood and hybrid Bos taurus and B. indicus cattle have been surveyed by electron microscopy of pachytene synaptonemal complex spreads. In this paper, the full-blood spreads are described in detail, including the use of XY and nucleolar morphology and other measured parameters for pachytene substaging. Pairing abnormalities were observed in up to 9% of the full-blood spreads. Most of these pairing abnormalities (83%) occurred in early-pachytene spreads, suggesting that the mechanism of synaptic adjustment may operate in cattle.Key words: synaptonemal complex, cattle, pachytene substages.


1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (21) ◽  
pp. 2694-2706 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.C. Lu ◽  
Donna R. Galeazzi

Light and electron microscopy have revealed that the meiotic-1 (mei-1) mutant of Neurospora crassa is defective in chromosome pairing (asynaptic) although plenty of axial components of the synaptonemal complex are produced and occasional tripartite synaptonemal complexes can be formed. The mei-1 mutant is most probably defective in bringing the homologous chromosomes together for pairing and for assembly of the synaptonemal complex. The mei-1 mutant is also defective in nuclear separation which leads to a four-poled spindle at the subsequent division. The lack of chromosome pairing, the incomplete assembly of the synaptonemal complex, and the four-poled spindles account for absence of recombination and for the nondisjunction found in genetic analysis.


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